Job Discussion Forums

[SUZUKI]

Dhofar "University"?

About 15% of students (this seems to be a pretty consistent figure, across classes) are interested in learning. The rest are there for the bit of paper on sale and will do anything they think they can get away with to get it. (And they WILL get it. No-one who enters the gate and pays their dues leaves without what they came for!)

Management mouths "excellence", but a teacher who aspires to that, in terms of rewarding the worthy, has first to contend with management, who aren't willing to risk "customer" (but why the inverted commas; that's what they're seen as) dissatisfaction and side with the student (sorry, customer). Profit is paramount: Lebanese managers, rewarded nicely, thank you, look after their own interests and take care of those of their masters, the invisible Omani Mister Bigs. If ever there was a case to show how corrupt the privatisation of education can become, this is it. As a business, though, it really works: people come and buy a degree; they get what they paid for and the organisation gets the loot (and it's not cheap!) Somewhere in the middle, though, are the teachers. I am one of the many who work hard for their students, but the large majority (as above) just want the certificate and don't care much about the fact that their teacher is trying to help them. I happen to believe, too, that it's not so that just because the money was on the table, so to speak, a student should pass the course.

Thus, if you're a self-respecting and serious teaching professional, do avoid the place. Seventeen EL teachers left at the end of last semester. Some of that was natural turnover, but the largest proportion wasn't.

[boundforsaudi]

Well said, SUZUKI.

[veiledsentiments]

From what I saw myself and see here on the board, this is getting to be the norm... worldwide. Education around the world is being privatized and profit is paramount.

What does a teacher do? I'd say that one does his or her best for the 15% of the students who are serious.

VS

[boundforsaudi]

DU is a private university, but I think it's still oficially a not-for-profit institution. But they make a pseudo profit in the form of exhorbitant salaries for management. They used to put one of the deans up in the Crown Plaza on a pemanent basis, probably until the complaints got too loud. They paid native speakers a good salary until about a year ago, when management decided they could skim even more for themselves.

[Duffy]

Hi BS!!

Off topic, but where are you at ?? (PM me if you want)

Lalah Coll still nuts. Same as it ever was...............

Duffy

[guangho]